Shoppers had a narrow escape after glass from a bus station roof crashed down.

The pane of glass the size of a door crashed to the ground at Newcastle's Haymarket Bus Station, only just missing passers-by.

Questions of safety have been raised because this is the second time that part of the roof, over the concourse outside Marks and Spencer, has collapsed.

In 2000 the Chronicle reported how the bus station was forced to close after a glass panel fell in, also on a busy Saturday afternoon.

Michael Francis, 50, a full-time carer of East Garth, Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle, was standing nearby with his wife, who is wheelchair-bound, last weekend. He said: "I had barely parked my wife's wheelchair when I heard a noise from the roof of the concourse.

"There was a massive rumbling sound. I looked up and saw a shower of glass fall from the roof structure that covers the walkway outside Marks and Spencer.

"Miraculously the accident occurred moments after passers-by had been walking there. I saw at least two people who had just walked underneath it and were only feet away. I saw them looking back over as they walked on towards Northumberland Street. They paused and looked shocked and amazed. If it had happened a second earlier we would be dealing with the coroner.

"Shortly afterwards security guards from Marks and Spencer arrived to find out if anyone had been hurt and to clear up the glass."

The £1m bus station was opened by former Newcastle United star, Peter Beardsley, in April 1996. It is used by thousands of passengers every day, is owned by Newcastle City Council and leased to transport operators Nexus.

The bus station was paid for by Marks & Spencer as part of work to extend the store and many shoppers use the footpath to get into the shop.

A spokesman for Newcastle City Council said: "Following the initial incident in 2000, a full structural survey and chemical analysis was carried out to establish the cause.

"Unfortunately, this proved inconclusive. We are deeply concerned at this latest incident and will once again be carrying out a thorough investigation."